Portable electric refrigerator



y 1952 T. E. KALHOEFER 2,603,071

PORTABLE ELECTRIC REFRIGERATOR Filed July 7, 1950 i 2 SI'IEETS-SHEET lIN VEN TOR. 77/51. M14 5. K44 HOE/18,

July 15, 1952 1'. E. KALHOEFER PORTABLE ELECTRIC REFRIGERATOR 2Sl-XEETS-ShEET 2 Filed July 7, 1950 INVENTOR. THELMfl E KAAHOEFEIG,

14 TI OIQ/VEYS Patented July 15, 1952 UNITED STA ES TENT OFFICE.

2,603,071 PORTABLE ELECTRIC REFRIGERATOR:

Thelma E. Kalhoefer, Bowie, Tex, Application July '2, 1950, Serial N0.'172,467'

3 Ciaims. 1

This invention relates to a refrigeration device, and more particularlyto a portable electric refrigerator.

An object ofthis invention is to providea refrigeration device which isparticularly adapted for use in automobiles for storage of foodstuffs orbeverages while traveling.

Another object of this invention is to-provide a refrigeration devicewhichis particularly adapted for operation from the electric system ofamotor vehicle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable electricrefrigerator which is provided with suitable insulation to therebye'fiectively decrease the power consumption of the device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a portableelectric refrigerator which can be thermostatically controlled.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a portableelectric refrigerator which is relatively simple in structure andcheapto manufacture.

The above and still further objects and advantages of this inventionwill become apparent upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of' the invention, when taken in conjunction with thedrawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of the portable electric refrigerator of thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the portable electricrefrigerator of the present invention taken from the front of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3' of Figure 2;

Figure 4' is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5'--5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fagmentary sectional view showing a part of thecoil structure for the passage therethrough of the refrigerant;

Figure '7 is an enlarged'fragmentary sectional view-taken along the line1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an enlargedfragmentary sectional View taken along the line8-8 of Figure 2; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line9-9 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like referencenumerals have been used throughout the several views to designate likeparts, there is shown the portable electric refrigerator of the presentinvention, generally designated by the reference numeral H), whichembodies anouter casing =|i having a closed bottom 12 andan' open top.

Disposed within the outer casing it and-supported in the latter is aninner casing l3 having a closed bottom I4- and an open topythe innercasing being supported in spaced relation with 'respect to the outercasing, to thereby provide an casing H and the closed bottom l4- of-theinner casing 13 is a second spacer-ring |8.- As cIearly shown in Figures4' and 7, the spacer ringll is provided with a plurality ofapertures,gener ally designated by thereference numeral H). The spacer ring t8issimilarlyprovided; with aper-I tures, not'shown, the aforementionedapertures cooperating to maintain the adjacent portions ofthe dead airspace I 5 in communication witheach other.

Disposed within the dead air space l5: in abutting relation with theadjacent face-of the outer casing ll isan insulating sleevelfl. sincethe inner casing [3 has its bounding Wall contiguous to a dead: airspace, and the bounding wallof the outer casing vII is insulated, itisapparent that little "heat will. pass through the walls oftherefrigerator IO- of the present invention. I

Disposed in bridging relation with respect to the open topof theinner-and'outer casings- I 3, H is a cover 2| which is mounted bymeansof the hinge 22 for pivotal-movement out of its positionof bridgingrelation with respect to the open top" of the refrigerator l0.

, Disposed exteriorly of the outer casing H and supported on the latteris a latch, generally des ignatedbythe reference numeral 23' which isengageable withthe cover- 2 I for detachably-secuing the latter in theposition ofbridging relation;-

Extending transversely of the outer casing =H,

andsecured exteriorly-the'reof is a supportingbas'e 24. Positioned uponthe supporting base 24' and secured thereon is a electrically operablerefrigeration unit of the direct expansion-type, generally designated bythe reference numeral 26, which" embodies a compressor 21, acondenserkiii; a float chamber 29, and a motor 30' coupled to thecompressor 21.

Circumposed about the innercasing, Wand positioned within thedeadairspace I5 is arefrigerant-circulating means, generally designatedby the reference numeral 3! which has one end in communication with thehigh pressure side of the refrigeration unit 26 by means of the conduit32, and has its other end connected to the low pressure side by means ofthe conduit 33. The refrigerant-circulating means embodies a strip 34channel-like in cross-section wound about the inner casing l3 with itsopen side facing the latter and secured thereto and cooperating with theadjacent portion of said inner casing to provide a continuous passagewayfor the refrigerant.

Accordingly, the refrigerantcan-pass from the high pressure side of therefrigeration unit 26 into the upper end of the refrigerant-circulatingcoil, downwardly through the coil, and back into the low pressure sideof the refrigeration unit.

circumposed about the refrigeration unit 26 and detachably secured tothe outer casing I I is a protectivehood 35. The hood 35 is providedwith a plurality of apertures, generally designated bythe referencenumeral 36, for the circulation therethrough of air to maintain therefrigeration unit 25, at a, temperature relatively close to that of thesurroundings. The hood 35 has its upper end 31 abutting against the wallof the outer casing H, as clearly shown in Figure 9, and detachablysecured thereto by means ofa threaded nut 38 and a bolt 39 circumposedabout the nut and bearing against the hood. As clearly shown in Figure8, the base 24 is provided witha longitudinally extending notch 43 forembracingly receiving and supporting the lower end of the hood 35.

. Disposed contiguousto the bottom of the inner casing I3 is a Ythermoresponsive element H which forms ,a part of a thermocontrol,generally designated by the reference numeral 42. Thethermocontrol isoperatively connected to the motor 30 by means of the connecting wires43, Figure 3, and control the motor in response tothe-temperature'of theinner casing l3. The thermocontrol 42 is provided with a pointer 44which isdisposed exteriorly of the hood 35 and supported onthe latter,the'pointer cooperatiHEfWithfGhBddjLCfiIil; numerical indicia to give a,visual indication of. the setting of the thermocontrol. As clearly shownin Figure 5, the thermoresponsiveelement M of the thermocontrol #2 isinsulated-from the dead air space l by the insulating sleeve 45..whichis circumposed about the portionyof the element M which extendstransversely through the dead air space l5, Accordingly, thethermocontrol 42 will permit an accurate and speedy control of the tem--perature within thecasing l3.

Dependingly supported from the inner face of the cover 4| is an annularflange 46. Abuttin against the under surface of the cover 2i andsupported within the flange "at is an insulating disc 4] whichcooperates with the dead air space l5 and the insulating sleeve 20 tomaintain the interior of the inner casing l3 relatively proof againstthe-temperature of the-surroundings of the refrigerator iii. Circumposedabout the flange 46 is, a gasket E8, the gasket being fiexdly securedtothe flange 46 and bearing against the adjacent portions of the innercontainer I3, as clearlyshown in Figure 4, to form a relativelyair-tight seal between the cover 2| and the casing.

Exteriorly of the outer casing ii there is prodes. pai 191 r eseit edlese i nat b the reference numerals 49, 50, which permit the refrigeratorto be manually grasped, lifted, and transported from place to place.

Drain tube 52 leads from the bottom of the inner casing is, across thedead-air space l5, and through the side wall of the outer casing H andis provided with a removable drain plug 53 in its outer end.

In actual use, the motor 30 of the refrigeration unit 26 can beconnected to any source of electrical energy, such as the electricalsystem of a motor vehicle, or a small storage battery, to be actuatedthereby. The thermoresponsive control 42 is then set at the desiredtemperature and the refrigeration unit 26 operates to circulate arefrigerant through the circulating coil 34. The device is then readyfor the accommodation of foodstuffs or beverages.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the refrigerator of thepresent invention is particularly adapted for use in automobiles fortraveling, or for picnics or the like, where it is desired to keep foodand other produce at temperatures well below that of the surroundingatmosphere.

Although only one embodiment of the device of the present invention hasbeen described, it is readily apparent that numerous modifications canbe made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forthin the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a portable refrigerator, an outer casin having a closed bottom andan open upper end, an inner casing, a cover for the open upper end ofthe inner casing, said inner casing being concentrically spaced withinsaid outer container to define a dead-air space therebetween, said airspace entirely surrounding said inner casing, said inner casing having aclosed bottom, a first spacer ring spacing the bottom of the innercasing upwardly from the bottom of the outer casing, a second spacerring spacing the side wall of the inner casing from the side wall of theouter casing, said second spacer ring being located at a pointintermediate the upper and lower ends of said dead-air space and beingformed with perforations, means extending between the side walls of theinner and outer casings at their upper ends and closing the upper end ofsaid dead-air space, a refrigerant conduit surrounding and in contactwith said inner casing at a point below said second spacer ring in saiddead-air space, and a refrigerating unit mounted on the exterior of saidouter casing and effectively connected to said refrigerant conduit.

2. In a portable refrigerator, an outer casing having a closed bottomand an open upper end, an inner casing, a cover for the open upper endof the inner casing, said inner casing being concentrically spacedwithin said outer container to define a dead-air space therebetween,said air space entirely surrounding said inner casing, said inner casinghaving a closed bottom, a first spacer ring spacing the bottom of theinner casing upwardly from the bottom of the outer casing, a secondspacer ring spacing the side wall of the inner casing from the side wallof the outer casing, said second spacer ring being located at a pointintermediate the upper and lower ends of said dead-air space and beingformed with perforations, means extending between the side walls of theinner and outer casings at their upper ends and closing the upper end ofsaid dead-air space, a refrigerant conduit surrounding and in contactwith said inner casing ata point below said second spacer ring in saiddead-air space, and a refrigerating unit mounted on the exterior of saidouter casing and efiectively connected to said refrigerant conduit, saidunit comprising a base fixed on the lower part of and projectinglaterally from said outer casing, said base being formed in its uppersurface with a slot, and a removable hood having a depending lowerflange engageable in the slot and an upper flange arranged to engage theexterior of the outer casing side wall at a point spaced above saidbase, and means removably securing the upper fiange in place on theouter casing side wall.

3. In a portable refrigerator, an outer casing having a closed bottomand an open upper end, an inner casing, a cover for the open upper endof the inner casing, said inner casing being concentrically spacedwithin said outer container to define a dead-air space therebetween,said air space entirely surrounding said inner casing, said inner casinghaving a closed bottom, a first spacer ring spacing the bottom of theinner casing upwardly from the bottom of the outer casing, a secondspacer ring spacing the side wall of the inner casing from the side wallof the outer casing, said second spacer ring being located at a pointintermediate the upper and lower ends of said dead-air space and beingformed with perforations, means extending between the side walls of theinner and outer casings at their upper ends and closing the upper end ofsaid dead-air space, a refrigerant conduit surrounding and in contactwith said inner casing at a point below said second spacer ring in saiddead-air space, and a refrigerating unit mounted on the exterior of saidouter casing and eifectively connected to said refrigerant conduit, saidunit having a thermal control element having a portion extending throughthe side walls of the outer and inner casings and exposed within thelower part of said inner casing.

THELMA E. KALHOEFER;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

